Well, it’s mostly quiet in the Gaza region, for the time being. Rocket fire into Israel from Gaza has slowed, and humanitarian aid for civilians is getting into Gaza, albeit at a rate less then optimal.
Rather than hold my breath – and hands – waiting for the parties to make their peace, I’m still looking for a wider community committed to that peace. I’m heartened by recent requests for a pattern for my knitted olive branch. The process is a simple one: knit some olives, start knitting a branch and leaves, and knit the olives onto the branch as you go.
TikkunTree Olive Branch
Materials:
– worsted weight yarn (I used Araucania Nature Wool Solids, two shades of mottled green), a few yards for each olive, more for the branch and leaves
– one set of US 3 (3.25 mm) double point needles
– one set of US 4 (3.5 mm) double point needles
stitch holder/s
– a small amount of stuffing material (a finely shredded, clean plastic bag will do just as well as polyfill stuffing)
Instructions:
Knit 5-8 olives with stems (large and small, green and/or black) and set aside on stitch holder/s or another needle.
To make an olive:
CO 6 (long-tail), divide onto 3 dpns, join without twisting and mark beginning of the round
Row 1 (and all odd rows): knit
Row 2: *k1, M1 (ladder-lift increase), k1*, repeat ** to end of round (9 sts)
Row 4: *k1, M1, k2*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (12 sts)
Row 6: *k1, M1, k3*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (15 sts)
Row 8: *k1, M1, k3*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (18 sts)
Row 10: *k1, M1, k3*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (21 sts)
Rows 11-13: knit
Row 14: *k2tog, k4*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (18 sts)
Row 16: *k2tog, k3*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (15 sts)
Row 18: *k2tog, k2*, k1*, repeat ** to end of round (12 sts)
Stuff the olive lightly and continue to close the top of the olive:
Row 20: *k2tog* to end of round (6 sts)
Row 21: *k2 tog* to end of round (3)
Row 22: k2tog, k1
Continue to make stem for olive on branch: work remaining 2 sts in I-cord (knit the sts, don’t turn; slip the sts back to the beginning of the needle and knit again) for 3-5 rows
Cut a 3” tail for weaving later, and slip these 2 sts to a holder or another needle and Cut a 3” tail for weaving later.
Start the olive branch and leaves:
CO 5 sts in green or brown
Work in I-cord for 2-4”.
Begin working leaves on the stem and knit in the olives as you go.
To make olive branch leaves:
Start with one st from the I cord branch (from either end of the dpn), then CO 15-20 sts (backward loops works fine; other techniques are described here here).
BO 5 sts loosely.
K remaining new sts, slip last st knitted back to other (LH) needle, turn.
K to next to last st, turn (1 st is on the RH needle), slip 1 st from LN to RN, and BO 1st st, then
• continue to knit and BO the remaining sts (for slim leaf)
• or repeat above if making a larger leaf (20+ sts) – BO 5, K, k back, then BO remaining sts.
To knit-in an olive on the left side of the branch
• prepare by loading an olive to the left of the branch (place sts on the left side of the LH dpn)
• knit the first 2 sts of the I-cord branch, k2tog, k2tog (last st of the branch and the 1st st of the olive stem), k1 (2nd st of the olive stem) (5 sts)
To knit-in an olive on the right side of the branch
• prepare by loading an olive to the right of the branch (place sts on the right side of the LH dpn)
• k1 (1st st of the olive stem), K2 tog (2nd st of the olive stem and 1st st of the branch), k3
Continue to knit the branch and leaves, adding olives as you go, until you have used up your olives and/or the branch is the desired length.
This pattern is copyright protected. Feel free to use this pattern for non-commercial purposes only. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns about the pattern. I’m indebted to Mary Jane, Midge and Mink for the inspiration of their Olive Tutorial.
© 2009 TikkunArts. All Rights Reserved.
I’m so impressed by you and your work that I nominated you for the ‘Lemonade Award for attitude and gratitude’.
There are rules (which I didn’t follow in full):
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude and link to them in your post.
3. Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.
I wish you the best for the TikkunTree Project,
Susann (unikatissima)
Thank you for your kind words, Susann. It’s wonderful to know that the TikkunTree has touched you this way. I look forward to receiving your contributions from Germany!
Leslie
I can’t wait to try this. I will make some for temple for project for peace.
Thanks so much for your interest in participating, Robin. I look forward to seeing what you (and others?) make to contribute.
Leslie
Wow, what a beautiful project,
I would love to see how it will bloom.
Gilat
http://veryspecialart.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for your kind words! Can you find a way to contribute to the foliage?
Nice post. Waiting for you to continue the topic.
Julia Hakkinen
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